Robert J. Love, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death

    

Robert J. Love

American flying ace

Date of Birth: 28-Dec-1917

Place of Birth: Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada

Date of Death: 06-Dec-1986

Profession: military officer

Nationality: United States

Zodiac Sign: Capricorn


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About Robert J. Love

  • Robert John Love (December 28, 1917 – December 6, 1986) was a United States Air Force flying ace during the Korean War, shooting down six MiG-15 jet aircraft in 1952.
  • He was assigned to the 4th Fighter-Interceptor Wing's 335th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron. In 1969 he was one of the pilots hired by the air force of El Salvador during the Soccer War between that country and Honduras, where he flew a P-51 Mustang.Bob was an Unlimited pylon air race pilot at the Reno and Mojave Air Races from 1971 until his passing of a heart attack beside his white P-51D Mustang in Livermore, CA in 1986.
  • He crossed the finish line first at the first Reno Air Races in 1964, but lost on a complex points system used to declare the winner.
  • So many aircraft arrived at the Livermore Airport for his memorial, the airport had to be closed.
  • His ashes were scattered over San Francisco's Golden Gate bridge by his son Gary flying in a Stearman biplane.
  • He often flew his Mustang as the featured performer at air shows all over the west coast of the US.
  • His signature maneuver was a 360 degree roll immediately on take-off with the P-51 "dirty," meaning with the landing gear and flaps in the down position, and with just enough altitude above the runway to swing his wing underneath.
  • During his early air racing he flew another P-51D, silver "Oogahonk Special," race number 97, which had clipped wings, a lower canopy and a more powerful V-12 Rolls-Royce/Packard engine.
  • He was awarded the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal by the USAF during the Korean War.
  • The Fighter Aces organization composed of Aces, described him as, "One of the finest fighter pilots this country has ever produced." His personal aviation effects, medals, trophies and photographs are now in the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum collection, donated by me.
  • (Ron Burda, Photojournalist and his close friend and Mustang backseater during all his air racing and air show performing career.)

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